Three Bayern insights: Kompany switches into battle mode | OneFootball

FC Bayern win at Union Berlin and advance to the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. FCBinside provides three insights into the match

Bayern beat Union 3-2 in the cup round of 16 and the match provided the following insights

1. Standards decide the game

FC Arsenal had inflicted Bayern’s first defeat of the season in the Champions League – mainly with the help of strong London set-pieces. In Berlin, set-pieces were also decisive: all five goals were not scored from play. At 1:0 for Munich, Union player Ilyas Ansah put the ball into his own net after a corner from Joshua Kimmich. At 2:0, Harry Kane headed in, also after a Kimmich corner from the left

What was remarkable about both goals was that Aleksandar Pavlovic positioned himself excellently in front of Frederick Rönnow in the five-metre area, thus blocking the Union goalkeeper’s view and significantly restricting his radius of action. The midfielder therefore played a major part in both goals

After the game, Bayern star Konrad Laimer revealed that the approach was rehearsed: „Like every team, we have a concept where you make blocks – without fouling, of course. You have to stand in the way in such a way that you make it difficult for the goalkeeper and defenders,“ the Austrian explained on ZDF

What was certainly not rehearsed were the two own goals scored by Berlin – Union also put the 3:1 for FCB in the net themselves, this time through Diogo Leite. But this goal also came from a set-piece situation, this time the Berliner headed in after a sharp free-kick from just behind the corner of the penalty area by Michael Olise

But the two penalties for Union, both confidently converted by Leopold Querfeld, also came from set-pieces. Jonathan Tah got his hand to the ball after a long throw-in and was unable to pull it away in time

Kane’s foul on Diogo Leite in the penalty area came after a long Berlin free-kick, meaning that even more than in London, set-pieces were decisive – but this time Bayern had the better of the game

2. The Union turf causes a lot of damage

The game at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei was not a great sight to behold. A large part of this was due to the pitch of the „Eisern“, which was in a terrible state. Combination soccer with flat, precise passes was not possible on this surface. The hosts will not have made the greatest effort to maintain the pitch either, as the poor surface really benefited Berlin’s lumpy soccer against the technically superior Bayern. This has little to do with professional conditions and is not really worthy of a Bundesliga team

Joshua Kimmich clearly criticized the poor condition of the pitch after the game on ZDF: „Union’s game is clear, of course: lots of high and long balls. They also try to press man-to-man, you have to give them credit for that. The pitch suits them, of course.“

Kimmich continued: „It’s difficult to play three flat passes in a row. As a result, it’s just a lot of slogging and jostling from all the players. The second half wasn’t quite as attractive to watch. Lots of duels, lots of set pieces, lots of corners. I don’t know what it looked like to a neutral spectator, but there wasn’t much of a playful element to it.“

photo: IMAGO

The ball also bounced strangely before Tah’s handball, which could explain the FCB defender’s unusual movement. In the end, Union were not only inferior to Bayern in terms of soccer, but also in terms of fighting. There will be no more cup games at the Alte Försterei this season, so perhaps there will be some time for turf maintenance

3. Kompany switches into fighting mode

In his active days as a defender, Vincent Kompany was known to get in the way. As a coach – especially since his arrival at FC Bayern – the 39-year-old has always been very calm and level-headed. In Berlin, however, Kompany switched into battle mode

A cup fight was the order of the day and the Belgian didn’t need to be asked twice. There was no question of fine soccer on the Köpenick pitch anyway, so Kompany let his stars bite. „The second half was a fighting half. I experienced that myself as a player – that’s part of it,“ explained the coach afterwards and didn’t seem unhappy about it. He got really angry on the touchline after the second penalty whistle for Kane’s elbow strike

„For me, that’s not a penalty. It’s a physical game, the opponent has his arms in the same position as Harry – just 30 centimetres lower. Not everything in the face is a foul,“ Kompany maintained his position after the game

After the whistle, he engaged in a passionate verbal battle with referee Martin Petersen. In the end, Kompany was shown a yellow card. Was he right to receive a caution for his behaviour on the line? „Probably yes,“ admitted Kompany with a grin

The Belgian explained: „We also have to help the team from the outside. I don’t want to get the yellow and I always want to remain respectful. I reacted like an old defender.“